Tomorrow's Bites with Andrés and Sjacco What Is the Future Role of Technology In Regenerative Agriculture? - with Regenerative Farmer, Thomas Gent #85
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Jun 4, 2025 Join Thomas Gent, a third-generation UK farmer and founder of Gentle Farming, as he dives into the transformative role of technology in regenerative agriculture. He shares insights on the misalignment between agtech startups and farmers’ needs, emphasizing the value of time-saving tools over data overload. Thomas discusses his practical experiences with no-till farming, the challenges of adopting agroforestry, and the potential of AI in decision-making. Highlighting the importance of collaboration, he advocates for solutions co-developed with farmers to ensure success.
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How No‑Till Began On Their Farm
- Thomas's granddad tried one field with no‑till after visiting Argentina and it yielded very well by luck.
- The family then went fully no‑till and learned by many mistakes over years.
Commodity Markets Reduce Farmer Pricing Power
- Global commodity markets stabilize supply but strip pricing power from small producers.
- UK farm profits depend on weather in other continents, creating volatility and thin margins.
Farmers Have Only About 50 True Trials
- Thomas frames farming as a business with limited experimentation: he estimates ~50 harvests in a lifetime.
- That scarcity forces extreme risk aversion and changes product development expectations.